[JLR12679]

I am pre-op and have not even had my first consult yet. I go for my 1st appointment on 8/30 and was wondering what you all went throught before the surgery. The have already said that I will have to go through a sleep apnia test, but what else is there?

[SHH]

Hi Jessica, Good luck to you as you start the WLS journey.

My doctor gave me a folder when I started. In it was a list of tests and doctors appt. I needed to make.

For me, this included a

*Gastroenterologist for an EGD (scope of esophogus basically)
*Cardiologist for stress test and Echocardiogram.
*Psychologist for eval.
*Nutritionist for consult and pre-post diet info.
*PCP for physical and letter of support.

I did not have to do the sleep apnea test, but I know many do. Each doctor is different, so just make sure you get a list of what he/she wants so you get it all done.

Good luck to you. S

[freebird]

hi JLR

the tests and consults i was required to have were

-ultra sound of gallbladder
-3 dietician consults
-1 psychiatric consult

that's about it so far, however i know that when the time comes within a month of my surgery date i will need a few more tests and blood work but they haven't said what yet.

[fr1endly2]

MY surgeon required the following before surgery:

1. I needed to loose 10 percent of my weight which was 25 lbs. HE believes it shows my commitment to looseing weight and he feels patients
that loose weight pre op have less complications. IT also reduces the liver size for LAP surgery.

2. HAD to have an upper endoscopy

3. See his nutritionist

4. Have a Gall baldder sonogram

5. See a cardiologist

6. See a pulmonary specialist

7. Have a pscy. evaluation done

Of course i had to also to the normal things that a hospitol does for all surgeries blood work up EKG pregnancy test, blood sugar test things
like that.

Every surgeon has different protocals and I also believe patients of different ages brackets require different things. I had my surgery
june 1 2005 and i have lost 143 pounds. THIS was a last resort for me
to get healthy and change my life.ANd i have successfully done so in
a years time. SURE this journey has its ups and downs but it is so
worth it.
WELCOME to the forums and i look forward to getting to know you thru your posts!
KEEP us posted!
hug

[fr1endly2]

ALSO JESSICA!
I am PCOS and my periods have been very REGULAR since
my surgery. I now have 21 to 28 day cycles and my periods
are normal. MOST doctors feel you should wait to get pregnant
till after 18 months of looseing. THATS ur honeymoon of looseing time.
I experienced 13 years of infertlity from PCOS, and i will add
that weight loss (not this round) got me pregnant. I had lost 100 lbs
and got pregnant at 40 with my son josh who is now 3. OF course all the weight had come back and then gained even more during his first years
and then i turned to the Weight loss surgery to loose my weight for ever.
SO it can help!
(i also have 2 adopted kids!!)
good luck JEssICA!

[SHH]

I also had to have a sono of my gall bladder and a DVT sono on my legs..........I forgot about those.

S

[Pillows]

I had to do all the tests that Lisa went through, but I didn't HAVE to lose the 10% prior to surgery. It would have been a good idea if I had, but I didn't. Oh well, that is said and done with and now I can only concentrate on what I do from this point on.
Janae

[wannabethin]

Hi Jessica,

1 hour informational seminar on the surgery (given by the surgeon himself)
Consultation appt with my surgeon
EGD by my surgeon (scope of the esophagus)
Gallbladder sonogram
Psychiatric Clearance
4 hour nutrition class

I got copies of all medical appointments for weight loss (back in the phen-fen days), copies of Weight Watcher weigh ins and a letter from my primary care doctor. She isn't exactly gung-ho about me having the surgery, but she let me write the letter and she looked it over and signed it. I made sure and addressed all my co-morbidities in the letter.

I'm waiting on insurance approval right now. As soon as that goes through, I'll have a final post-op visit with the surgeon and whatever blood tests he orders. Good luck on everything as you travel this road!

[freebird]

oh yeah how could i forget the seminar and the private consultation with the surgeon. the seminar was only supposed to be 2hours (also was supposed to be given by surgeon) but because of emergencies (he was one of the on call dr.s for the er that day) it started almost an hour late and was given mostly by the dietician, the surgeon did come and talk to us for about 45 mins. and then had to wait for almost an hour before my personal consult. oh well made it through that.

i also included sleep studies and a letter from my sleep specialist, a letter from dr. dent, (weight loss specialist here in my area), who was the one who suggested the surgery to me in the begining, a letter from my endocronologist (think that's right, diabetes specialist) the dietician that i was seeing here through the diabetic clinic, and a letter from my family dr.
All of this was obtained prior to my applying.

I ve heard a few people say there dr.s aren't keen on the patient getting this surgery, i don't understand that if it's going to improve your health, boost your confidence, improve your life and life style and make you feel all around better.

also when i saw the surgeon's psychiatrist he said i had to see a psychiatrist in my area on a regular basis for him to approve me for the surgery. i'm kinda glad though cause of all the emotional issues i am and probably will be going through with this.